Dispensing unit



Aug1 14, 1945. C. F` PEASE 2,382,576

DISPENSING UNIT Aug. 14, 1945. C, F, PEASE 1 K 2,382,576

DISPENS ING UNIT 'Filed Nov. Y; 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 t I forngy.:

Patented Aug. 14, 1945 UNITED STATES*y PATENT FIICIEIV DISPENSING UNITCharles F. Pease, Long Beach, Calif. Application November 7, 1942,Serial No. 464,838

(Cl. S12-56) 4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in vending machines of that typewhich is particularly adapted for dispensing picture post cards, stampedenvelopes and articles of similar type, and which is further adapted,when desired to be operatedl through the medium of any suitable coincontrolled actuating means. This application is a continuation in partof my companion applications, Serial Number 364,621, filed November '7,1940 which has issued as Patent No. 2,309,008 on January 19, 1943, andSerial Number 370,272, led December 16, 1940 which has issued as PatentNo. 2,353,496 on July 11, 1944.

A particular feature in the present application which is broadlyincorporated into the construction disclosed in said companionyapplications is that olf displaying the article about to be dischargedby the machine in full View so that the vendee can see before operatingthe machine what is next to be dispensed.

Among objects of the invention is maximum simplicity and eiectiveconstruction which permits ready fabrication, co-upled withdependability in operation, whereby the machine will successivelydispense articles of the types above stated. Among further objects isthe production of a vending machine ofthe type stated which can beeasily and successfully incorporated into a multiple unit vendingapparatus to be operated by one or more coin controlledinstrumentalities.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specication, Fig. 1 isa fron-t elevation ofv my improved vending machine when disasseciatedfrom the actuator by which the machine is manually operated; Fig.. 2 isa back elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig.. 3 1s akbottom plan of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section takenapproximately on line 4 4. of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a side elevationshowing an actuator applied for operating my improved vending machine,the actuator being suitably coin controlled and a portion only of thevending machine being shown.

My improved vending machine has an up- K wardly and rearwardly slightlyinclining skeleton frame A, in which there is a sight opening I closedby an upwardly and rearwardly reclining glass or other transparent plateII, said frame being adapted to: lbe incorporatedinto a panel indicatedby i2 in` Fig. 3,y of a multiple vending machine structure, whereby anumber of difierent articles, each dispensed by a separate unit can be:controlled from a single or aplurality of coin operated elements. Thesight opening is of such shape and size as will displaythe article tolbe dispensed, the structure shown having a rectangular opening and beingadapted to dispense articles such as picture post cards, indicated by B.The side edges of the face frame have laterally extending flanges I3, bywhich said frame is supported on the panel structure. Said frame also.has upwardly and rearwardly extending flanges [dat the opposite sides ofthe sight opening, merging downwardly into an upwardly and rearwardlyextending supporting lip I5, which has a pair ci rearwardly extendingsto'p shoulders I6 on its rearward end. The lip I5 movably supports adownwardly and' `forwardly slanting gate Il back of the sight openingupon which a stack of the cards o-r other articles to be dispensed aresupported while standing on edge with. the face ofthe forward and bottommember restingl against` the transparent plate II.. The gate is fastenedto the lip piece I5 and is adjusted longitudinally relative to the Ibackof the transparent plate by the sets of screws I8 and I9 and lock screwsI9. By adjustingthe gate the width of thev gate or slot openingbetweenthe lower end of. the gate and transparent plate II can be variedto dispense post cards or other sheets of vfirm material of differentthicknesses.

The screws I9 have slotted connections upwardly through the stopshoulder I6 as ,shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and have threaded connection withthe lower side of the gate (lso as to assist in guiding the gatelongitudinally and retaining the latter upon the surface of the upwardlyand rearwardly slanting' lip l5.v The gate I'I is adjustedlongitudinally in a iorward direction upon the lip I5 to contractthejgate- Y way D by the screws I8, the Shanks of which engage freelythrough the hanged rearwardend I1 of the gate andlare threadedlyengagedwith the shoulder elements I6 as indicated in Fig. 3. Thus when thescrews I8 are tightened the gate is adjusted to regulate the width ofthe gateway D. The screws I9 are threadedly engaged through the flangedrearward end I'T' of the gate and the forward ends of their. Shanks bearagainst the rearward` faces ofthe shoulder elements so as to eitherwithdraw the gate and widen the gate opening D or tighten the hold ofthe adjusting screws` I8 and prevent. the` latter from loosening. To.cause rearward adjustment of the, gate the screws I8 are loosened' andthe Icompanion screws i9 aretightened.

The gate is adapted to sl-ide longitudinally von' said lip whenadjustedl and is provided with an upwardly and rearwardly extending backstop 20 by which the follower C to be hereinafter described is removablyheld. A pair of vertical side guard plates 2| between which the followerslides are secured rigidly to the supporting flanges I4 by screws 22 andlugs I6 or other suitable means. The gate I1 is slidably held below thelower ends of the guard plates 2| on the supporting li I5.

pThe vertical side plates 2|, gate I1, follower C and transparent plateI I in the sight opening, form amagazine in which a pack of post cardsor other articles of a similar type such as B are l closely packedagainst the inner face of the transparent plate while resting by theirlower edges upon the surface of the slanting gate I1. The lower edge ofthe gate cooperates with the inner face of the transparent plate I I toproduce a gateway D, of a width suitable to permit a single post card orother article being dispensed from the machine at a time. As eacharticle is dispensed it is projected downwardly below the machine sothat the vendee can grasp and remove the same.

The follower C is guided and manually manipulated by the sharft 25 whichextends rearwardlyA and slides in the longitudinal hole 26 in the upperend of the support 2D. while it is retained in parallel relation to theback of the transparent plate I I. A helical expansion spring 21,threaded loosely over the shaft 25 and interposed between the supportand the follower, presses the, follower plate lightly toward thetransparent vplate I I and holds the pack of cards or other articlesstacked in the-magazine in readiness to be dispensed one at a timethrough the gateway D. The rearward end of shaft has a handle 28'bywhich the follower can be removed or adjusted to place a fresh supply ofcards or other articles to be dispensed in the magazine. The back ofthefollower C has engaging lugs 29 by which the inner end of spring 21is fastened thereto and held in operative position.

The means by which the cards are successively ejectedfrom the stack ofcards held in the machine consists` of an ejector E, resembling a thinflat plunger removably mounted upon a recipro-y catingvcarriage v3l bythe clip 3|. This carriage slides vertically upon a pair of dependingguide rods 32 iand 33 which are rigidly secured to the inwardlyprojecting bosses 34 on the upper portion of the face frame A. One endof the carriage has a depending yoke 35 which is guided on rod 33 andcontains an expansion spring 36,

threaded oversaid rod. The lower end of the expansion -spring isattached at 31 to said rod and its upper end presses against the upperportion of the yoke to raise the carriage and the ejector E intosuperior position above the pack of cards retained in the holding meansas shown in Figs. 2 land 4, coincident with the sight opening. Thebosses 34 function as back stops for limiting the upward 'movement ofthe carriage and its ejector. In raised position the ejector is poisedabove the upper edge of the innermost post card or other articleto bedispensed on the bottom of the pack and being of a thicknesssubstantially corresponding with the thickness of said card and thestroke thereof being relatively short it is adapted to project the cardpartway down through the gateway. Y

The forwardly and downwardly slanting floor of the gate assists infeeding the stack of cards forwardly without sticking together orjamming the machine. Also slightly slanting the transparent plate andfollower C upwardly and rearwardly also assists in the same manner toprevent the cards from sticking together or jamming the machine.

The carriage is driven `downwardly to reciprocate the ejector E by theoperating rod 40, upon the lower end of which is the drive antifrictionpinion 4I. To drive the operating rod 40 a suitable actuator such as F(see Fig. 5) is provided. This actuator is adapted to be controlled bysuit- 1able coin controlled operating mechanism, the pull rod 42 ofwhich is shown. The actuator consists of a suitable frame 43, which maybe mounted upon a portion of the cabinet such as I2, containing thevending apparatus. Reciprocable in and out of the frame 43 is a handoperable pull rod 44, which fixedly supports a collet block 45, on thelower side of which is a boss 46 and on the upper side a longitudinalseries of ratchet teeth 41. The frame 43 has a rigid depending inner arm48 to the lower extending portion of which is pivoted at 49 a. forwardlyextending swinging lever 50, the free end of which is linked to the boss46 so that as the hand operable pull rod 44 is reciprocatedlongitudinally, the drive lever is swung up and down. An expansionspring 5| is threaded over the shank of pull rod 44, between the outerportion of the frame 43 and the collet block 45. This spring permits thepull rod 44 to be drawn outwardly and to swing the lever 50 downwardlyand serves to return the pull rod inwardly and swing the lever 50 backinto raised position. The lever 50 is provided with a pair of shoulders52 spaced apart suiciently to admit and engage the antifriction pinionroller 4| on the operating thrust arm 40. In mounting the parts on thecabinet the actuator F is positioned so that the shoulders 52 cooperatewith the pinion 4| and cause functioning of the vending apparatus in themanner stated. The drive lever 50 is shown connected by a link 53 andpivoted clamp block 54 to the coin control rod 42, by which theoperation of the dispensing unit actuator F may be controlled in theusual manner by depositing acoin in aslot. i i

To produce a complete forward and return stroke during each completeoperation of the machine a'double acting spring controlled pawl 55 isffreely pivoted at 56 on the frame 43 so as to cooperate with theratchet teeth 41 on the sliding collet block 45 as the pull rod 44 isreciprocated in either direction. This pawl is retained in normalposition out of contact with the ratchet teeth 41 when the pull rod 44is in receded position by the vertically poised helical retractllespring 51. As the pull rod is drawn outwardly the pawl sweeps over theteeth and automatically acts as a ratchet stop to prevent any returnmovement until a complete stroke has been made and vice versa, aftercomplete withdrawal movement has been made and the pull rod retractsinto the machine the pawl again sweeps over the teeth and preventsreverse movement until a complete backward stroke has been completed. Inthis manner, jamming by improper operation and milking of the machineare prevented. The forwardly and downwardly slanting gate in cooperationwith the slanting follower and transparent `plate assists inautomatically feeding the pack of post cards or other articles beingdispensed, downwardly, partly by gravity and by the aid of the spring 21from the magazine into a position whereby the lowtmost card of the stackand cooperating with said.

ermost card coincides with the gate opening and the ejector engages itsupper edge without disturbing the card or cards immediately following inthe magazine, thus eectively feeding the cards successively from themachine. 'Ihe gate also being adjustable to regulate the width of thegate opening enables the machine to be set to feed post cards or otherarticles of any desired thickness. The ejector E also being replaceableupon the carriage 30 by removing the clip 3|, permits the application ofanother ejector of a thickness corresponding with the thickness of yanycard or article being dispensed'. By holding the stack of cards with thelowermost card flat against the transparent plate Il, and directly abovethegate opening, the cards are discharged successively without jammingor mutilating by the ejector when the latter is reciprocated. Thisresult is partly due to the smooth anti-friction surface offered by thetransparent plate and the absence of corners `and sharp edges whichmight otherwise tend to obstruct smooth operation.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I nowconsider t represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to haveit understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and thatthe invention can be carried out by other means and applied to usesother than those above set forth within the spirit thereof and withinthe scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A dispensing unit, comprising, a face frame having an upwardlyextending sight opening through which an article about to be dispensedis displayed, upwardly extending side guards at the sides of said sightopening and a support extending upwardiy and rearwardly from near thelower portion of said frame and spaced below the lower ends of saidguards, a transparent plate in said sight opening, a forwardly anddo-wnwardly inclined gate for supporting a stack of cards to bedispensed while standing on edge with the face of the lowermost cardpressed against said plate, said gate being slidably disposed below thelower ends of said side guards upon said support with its lower innerend spaced back of the inner surface of said transparent plate toprovide a gate opening for the downward discharge of the lowermost cardof said stack, a carriage reciprocable downwardly against springtensionon the back of said face frame, an ejector blade depending fromsaid carriage, substantially corresponding with the thickness of thecards, normally poised above the innergate opening to discharge thelowermost card from the stack downwardly through the gate Iopening, andactuating means by which the carriage and said ejector are reciprocated.

2. In a structure as defined in claim 1, the gate having an upwardlyextending back stop, a spring pressed follower plate forward of saidstop and urged against the stack of cards to hold the cards against thetransparent plate, and a supporting shaft extending rearwardly from saidfollower and movably held by said back stop.

3. In a structure as defined in claim 1, the gate having an upwardlyextending back stop on its rearward end, a, follower plate forward ofsaid stop adapted to urge the stack of cards against the transparentplate, a supporting shaft extending rearwardly from the follower plateand movably held by said stop and a helical expansion spring encirclingsaid shaft and compressed between said stop and plate to urge the latterforwardly against the stack of cards, said follower plate having meansfor engaging the inner end of said spring to hold the latter in placethereon.

4. A dispensing unit, comprising, a face frame having an upwardlyextending sight opening, a supporting member extending upwardly andrearwardly from its lower portion and a pair of side guards spacedlaterally apart and having their lower ends terminating above saidsupporting member, a transparent plate in said sight opening, a gatereciprocably disposed upon said supporting member, said gate beingadapted to support a stack of cards to be dispensed while standing onedge with the face of the lowermost card resting against saidtransparent plate and said gate having its lower end juxtaposed to andcooperating directly with the inner surface of said transparent platetol produce a smooth gate passageway for the uninterrupted discharge ofthe lower end of each of the lowermost cards of said stack, adjustersbetween said supporting member and the opposite ends of said gate forregulating the size of the gate opening, downwardly extending guides onthe opposite ends of said face frame, a carriage having limitedreciproc-able movement downwardly upon said guides, an ejector blademounted upon said carriage above said gate opening substantiallycorresponding with the thickness of the cards to be dispensed and havinglimited movement to engage the lowermost card and discharge its lowerend from the stack downwardly through the gate opening, and means forimparting limited reciprocable movement to said carriage.

CHARLES F. PEASE.

